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Monday, February 16, 2015

This post showcases seven videos of the Zimbabwean performance group Black Umfolosi 5.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Black Umfolosi 5 and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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INFORMATION ABOUT BLACK UMFOLOSI 5:
From http://www.blackumfolosimusic.com/
"Black Umfolosi is a self taught Acappella (Imbube) singing and traditional dance group that was formed in 1982 by the then school age members who wanted to develop themselves and contribute to their community. Specialising in imbube music, gumboot dance and Zulu dance, Black Umfolosi has toured extensively nationally and internationally –Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and Asia. They have represented Zimbabwe at international events such as Expo 1992 in Seville, Spain and the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada."

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From http://www.artrix.co.uk/Music/The-Black-Umfolosi-5/1815
"The Black Umfolosi 5
World famous acappella and dance group from Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s greatest ambassadors, performing music inspired by the traditional song and dance of their native southern Africa, with a beauty and enthusiasm that is unrivalled.
Black Umfolosi were formed in 1982 by school friends in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, who named themselves after the Umfolozi Omnyama River in South Africa- to where their ancestors can be traced. In 2013 The Black Umfolosi 5 continue to present their spectacular songs and dances thrilling audiences worldwide."

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FEATURED VIDEOS
These videos are presented in chronological order based on their publishing dates on YouTube with the examples with the oldest dates presented first.

Example #1: black umfolosi [song title?]

flogfi1 Uploaded on Feb 7, 2009

Festival Musica dei Popoli 2002

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Example #2: Umfolosi 5 sing "Shosholoza" at the Royal Oak, Lewes

VicandTinaSmith Uploaded on Jun 18, 2010

Black Umfolosi 5 from Zimbabwe sing "Shosholoza" at The Royal Oak in Lewes on Thursday 3rd June 2010

"Zimbabwe's most internationally famous singing and dance group is Black Umfolosi... Their songs, sung in close, rich harmony, address general human concerns, love, family, spirit- as well as contemporary problems- wars, apartheid, the environment and AIDS. Their music is fresh and surprising, not only for the interesting text, but also for the typical intricate rhythms, unusual harmonies and interspersed clicking, clapping and shouting, which combine to produce a natural funky and rugged aura" The Rough Guide to Zimbabwe.

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About Me

I'm an African American mother, grandmother, & retired human services administrator. For more than forty years I have shared adapted West African stories with audiences in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.
I have four blogspots: pancocojams, zumalayah, cocojams2, and .Civil Rights Songs. Much of the content of these blogs were previously found on my cocojams and jambalayah cultural websites. I curate all of these blogs on a voluntary basis.
Each of these blogs have the primary goal of raising awareness about cultural aspects of African American culture and of other Black cultures throughout the world, particularly in regards to music & dance traditions.
Viewer comments are welcome on my blogspots.